State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
There are many reasons to seriously consider homeschooling: you’re in control of what your children are learning, you get to decide how much time you want to spend on different subjects, you can adapt the material to suit your children’s needs, and you don’t have to worry about your children dealing with schoolyard bullies.
Whether you’ve already made this decision or you just plan to, we’re here to show you how to start homeschooling in Illinois. We’ll help you make full use of the educational potential of Illinois, we’ll let you in on the Illinois homeschool requirements, and we’ll offer you a diverse range of useful online homeschool resources that will guarantee your homeschooling success. The infographic and video below will help you create a homeschool that thrives.
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The Prairie State
Named after the local Native American tribes, Illinois is now considered exponential for the entire USA. Indeed, so emblematic is it, that even president Obama – who was born in Hawaii – claimed that Illinois was his home state!
People’s admiration for Illinois is absolutely justified. Illinois is a pioneer among American states when it comes to civil rights, being the first state to abolish slavery and to elect a female African-American senator; so there’s no shortage of local history to teach your children, if that’s what they’re into.
Illinois is also famous for its beautiful nature attractions. Take you children on a boating trip on Lake Michigan, hike through the Garden of Gods while enjoying some of the most breathtaking views on the Midwest, or visit the meandering canyons of Starved Rock State Park.
If you want to introduce your children to some of the best museums in the world, Chicago is a great place to start. Here you will find the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and History, the Shedd Aquarium and the fascinating Adler Planetarium.
Illinois Homeschool Laws
With such a plethora of educational possibilities, Illinois also boasts one of the most permissive homeschool legal systems.
If you want to homeschool in Illinois, you will operate within a home-based private school. Not to worry, though - that’s simply the legal name of your homeschool. Everything else about the Illinois homeschool legal system is straightforward: you’re not legally required to inform the authorities of your intention to homeschool, and there are no compulsory qualifications. The way you schedule your timetable is entirely up to you, and you don’t have to keep a portfolio of your children’s work (though we’d highly recommend you do so!).
There are some legal recommendations in what regards the subjects, but they’re pretty sensible: they have to be equivalent to those offered by a public school, depending on your children’s grade, and they have to be taught in English.
Homeschooling laws in Illinois make no provisions related to assessment, so you don’t have to turn in any reports on your child’s progress.
Finally, you may enroll your children in public school classes, if there is enough space to do so, but your children will not be allowed to play in school sports teams.
Homeschool in Illinois – Final Grade
With such a great variety of educational opportunities and such a down-to-earth legal system, there’s no other grade but A for the Illinois homeschool system. The legal demands on a parent who plans to homeschool are minimal, and you can also benefit from public school services, if you want to. You’re really lucky - if you plan to homeschool, Illinois is one of the best places to live in.
Conclusion
Illinois is one of the best places to be in, if you plan to start homeschooling your children. The Prairie State offers a variety of educational opportunities for you and your children to take advantage of, from beautiful natural parks to some of the best museums in the world. The legal system is very easy to navigate, too – there’s virtually no compulsory paperwork!
To make your homeschool journey even easier, you’ve got a large selection of online resources to work with, and you can always get in touch with an active community of fellow homeschoolers. If you’ve got any additional questions, you can always contact us – we’d be more than happy to help you along the way. So start homeschooling now – your children will thank you for it!
Resources
http://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/
http://www.isbe.net/homeschool/ - the official site of Illinois State Board of Education provides useful information for anyone wishing to start homeschooling
http://illinoishope.webs.com - this site offers useful resources related to homeschooling in Illinois
http://www.iche.org/resources - another resource-filled site with valuable homeschooling information